Here comes the vaccine

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, August 21st, 2020 - 46 comments
Categories: australian politics, covid-19, health, jacinda ardern, uncategorized - Tags: ,

Australian Prime Minister Scott Malcom has indicated he’s getting close to the deal of a lifetime for Australians with a letter of intent from Astra Zenica, who are in third stage clinical trials.

Other countries are gearing up for different versions.

But there’s no WHO International Rescue coming.

Instead there’s full-on international non-cooperation and competition.

But a vaccine is appearing on the horizon, and we need to start preparing for a vaccine coming our way, with all the attendant ethical conundrums around it. It’s our one route from this mess towards social and economic stability, but there’s questions to solve:

1. Can The State Make It Compulsory?

No – not here. We have a right under our Bill of Rights (commonly known as BoRA) to refuse medical treatment. So any shot for Covid-19 can’t be made compulsory.

Nothing to worry about you anti-vaxxers.

We New Zealanders have a list of shots called the Immunisation Schedule that you’ll probably recall lining up in Intermediate and High School for, which has been going multiple decades.

Australia doesn’t have a human rights charter, or anything constitutional that would either preclude or enforce compulsory vaccination. I really doubt they’d break the bodily autonomy barrier like that though.

My feeling however is that any employer who does random drug and alcohol testing – that’s anyone in manual labour, or driving anything, or operating machinery – will be tempted to just slip it into the conversation casual-like, rather than on paper, as in “would you like to clean this toilet for the your career here and stay vaccine free, or continue your normal duties?”

Maybe a register of Nons, overseen by the Human Rights Authority or somesuch.

The social force around schools, hospitals, airports, stadiums, and sports clubs will also build up if you choose not to take the cure, shall we say. Social media is going to be one choppy sea of cyberbullying.

So the answer to that question is: who is “we”?

2. Who Will Get It First?

Just as we’ve had consumer fever about toilet paper, and then consumer fever about facemasks, we’ll also get supply fever about the vaccine. For a good few months as it’s rolled out there will be gnashing of teeth as one suburb and then one region appears to get it faster than the other.

Are they going to knock on our door like the tv license van people of old, or like census people used to?

The old? But they’re old. The young? Barely hits them. The middle aged? Smokers? Frontline workers? People in jail? Emergency services staff? Sick people? Community Services Card people? What about those with health insurance – can they jump the queue? Who is “the rest”? And how does that make us all feel? A Lotto draw? Maybe we’ll be all polite like our MMR and Polio shots way back. Or maybe it’s the March of the Undead again.

Where is MedSafe in this? Then where’s Pharmac? How does this allocation system work? Who is in charge of all of this logistical system? Fun times for the health system, particularly if we continue to just make it up and patch it up as we appear to be doing at the border. We’re all having to make this up as we go, stumble, recover, repeat.

The ethics of allocation will be intense as social uproars go, but it will pass.

3. Will It Be Free?

What that means is: will the taxpayer pay, the citizen pay, or a mixed co-payment be the way this is paid for? Nothing is free: even if Astra-Zenica start throwing vials out the back of a truck, there’s big transport and regulatory and standardisation and allocation and administrative costs. For pretty much any medicine in New Zealand, people without special cards part-pay. So then there’s an attendant threshold argument about who is getting what subsidy, and whether that’s all “fair”.

Two days ago Prime Minister Morrison said that if the vaccine succeeded, the Government would manufacture it immediately and make it free for all Australians: “The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced in the world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian.” Who knows if we can afford it like that.

My reckons is the first New Zealand political leader to get the word in to Prime Minister Morrison to secure enough for us would score a reasonable political coup. I’m sincerely hoping Prime Minister Morrison isn’t, as the Aussies say, writing cheques with his mouth that his ass can’t cash.

A further ethical question is of course: should you be able to secure your own supply for your own people off Amazon for whatever price, or from Southern Cross by going private, or should it be fully state controlled and doled out at your nearest GP alone? I’d prefer to see us planning for the egalitarian route, but it’s not really enforceable.

4. Should We Wait?

The degree of community infection here remains negligible, and we’ll be back into Level 1 or 2 in no time at all. So surely the people of Brazil or Belgium or the U.K. or India need it a lot more than we do? Why not just see which vaccine is the most effective – just hold off the whole thing for 6 months and see who turns into an Undead?

Some vaccines go wrong. Some vaccine administration goes wrong. It’s rare, but still …

Maybe we’re up for it.

Or maybe we sucked ourselves into believing we’d beaten it and are too bruised to rush to triumph again by jabbing our gut with the first thing thrown at us.

5. And Are We Vaccine-Organised For The Next One?

Should we accelerate the Simpson Report changes to the health system and go even further, as a response to this great thing as bad as the Great Depression, and as confounding? Should and can that be a cross-party agreement on structure and systems, given its social and economic impact?

With the vaccine on the horizon, can we not suck the politics out of this, and get on with arguments about jobs and education and climate and the usual shit? We’ve done it before on stuff like NZSuper, Working For Families, and bunches of other good stuff.

How will we know when we’re strong enough and organised enough to deal with the inevitable variations and next ones? Annual re-shots through work?

Well, we’ve nearly done it with M. Bovis and tuberculosis in tens of millions of cows.

Five million little pricks can’t be too hard.

46 comments on “Here comes the vaccine ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. SPC 1
    21 August 2020 at 7:24 am

    Who will get the Oxford vaccine first is already known – India. A company there is producing it while the stage three trial is going on – so they can supply as soon as a positive result occurs.

    Domestically – health sector workers, border bubble workers and those most at health risk would have to head the queue.

  2. roy cartland 2
    21 August 2020 at 9:10 am

    Australian Prime Minister Scott Malcom

    Morrison?

  3. xanthe 3
    21 August 2020 at 9:24 am

    "Five million little pricks can’t be too hard."

    heh heh…… they certainly can!

  4. greywarshark 4
    21 August 2020 at 9:27 am

    We would be grateful for small mercies from Australia, that would be a wise approach to take, provided that we don't then have to sign up to rearm for armaments more than we have already saddled ourselves with.

    We don't want to be reliant on Australia – there be dragons!

  5. barry 5
    21 August 2020 at 9:45 am

    The vaccine delivery worldwide will be a clusterfuck like everything else related to the virus.

    The fact that there are many different approaches is good because we will eventually find out which ones work, and the best delivery schedule (how much/how many). However the rush will mean that many ineffective or dangerous concoctions are going to be given out before we get there. It is not until a vaccine is given to millions that we can know.

    Current vaccines (MMR, flu, polio etc) are incredibly safe and effective because the wrinkles have already been ironed out. Side effects are rare, known and manageable. the same will not be sayable for a covid vaccine for at least another year.

    Suffice it to say that I will not be lining up for the first dose. If NZ can keep up our elimination strategy for another year, then I think the world will be ready to deliver a safe vaccine. I presume that we will have done our bit to help, but it will need to be tested in the countries that have the highest incidence (who also have the most to gain).

    So I hope that India gets it, and it helps them to bring the virus under control next year. For NZ it is both selfless and selfish to wait.

    • Tricledrown 5.1
      21 August 2020 at 4:05 pm

      India has a thriving pharmaceutical industry giving the world cheap generic medicines no doubt they will be able to manufacture enough for everyone.

  6. greywarshark 6
    21 August 2020 at 9:48 am

    Those who refuse vaccines under the medical treatment no in the Bill of Rights – if this remains so, then we will not give medical treatment like ventilator time etc to them. They can be helped at a hospice-like facility where because they will be infectious, there will be large glass windows so that family can see them but will converse through a speaker system. Staff will be in full infection cover. No mucking around. These are serious times and we have to face them, if personal wants or beliefs mean people want something individual that is beyond reason then they must follow through to the consequences.

    We absolutely have to both co-operate and respect each other. This method would do both. We should start preparing a separate part of a hospital or hospice as suitable along these lines.

    I see a Northland family asking to travel down to Wellington for a family matter. They want to inter the ashes of a family member and had decided on the anniversary of the death, which is inside the Auckland lockdown. So the whole system that the government has painstakingly set up should be set aside to satisfy their wishes about a date that can easily be changed.

    They set it when things were different, now they have to wait until it is possible. We have spent decades since even before 1984 thinking about being entitled' we have been encouraged to think as individuals, to put ourselves first, to go for what we want. It's destroying the society we had built – it is melting away and our environment and weather going too – it is no longer reasonable to demand something like a child. Time to revert to being responsible adults, if we can persuade enough of us to do so. Even a small minority can bring about further deterioration of our relatively free, co-operative and trusting society.

    • SPC 6.1
      21 August 2020 at 9:53 am

      The issue of consent/autonomy has been around a long time.

      Individual rights until the issue of life itself becomes a factor.

      https://www.ima.org.il/FilesUploadPublic/IMAJ/0/44/22002.pdf

    • Aaron 6.2
      21 August 2020 at 2:02 pm

      @greywarshark that's a pretty vindictive attitude, and a fore taste of what could happen on social media – just like AD was saying.

      It's either a human right to refuse medication or it's not. Rationalising a system of second class service for people who don't conform with your point of view is cruel, no matter how polite the language you use.

      Don't ask for people's respect if you can't respect basic human right.

      • greywarshark 6.2.1
        21 August 2020 at 2:32 pm

        Oh all the human rights go to the exempting individual do they. What a wet argument that is. Try the other way, the people wanting to stop the spread of an infectious virus have the human right to expect that others will care about them.
        Try that for size. Preach on though if you like to ride round on a high horse.

        • Aaron 6.2.1.1
          22 August 2020 at 1:26 pm

          Keep up the hard-man talk greywarshark, calling people children, calling my argument wet – Judith Collins would be proud. You proposed a system of health care that effectively punished people who don't take the vaccine. That's a human rights issue and nothing else. Being unkind to people who don't do what you want brings no benefit to the rest of the population, aside from giving some people a feeling of righteous satisfaction that is.

          You wrote: "people wanting to stop the spread of an infectious virus have the human right to expect that others will care about them" but in a situation where the majority of the population is vaccinated there is no mechanism by which the unvaccinated people can make them sick – unless the vaccine is faulty.

          What you are edging toward is a totalitarian approach to solving problems that will create it's own blowback. Unfortunately the pharmaceutical companies will give you lots of support because this vaccine is a potential motherload that will dwarf even their own current profits.

    • georgecom 6.3
      21 August 2020 at 9:04 pm

      if someone chooses not to get a (effective) covid vaccination when available, more fool them. if they get the virus good luck to them but the rest of us can go about our life in fair security I imagine. those who choose not to get it will not put the populace at risk apart from those who choose not to get vaccinated.

      One consideration is people who for health reasons are unable to get vaccinated but who might otherwise do so, and are therefore at risk from the infectious unvaccinated. then perhaps the infectious should be isolated, some form of compulsory committal or confinement order under a health regulation

      • greywarshark 6.3.1
        21 August 2020 at 9:14 pm

        I don't understand how people don't understand how infectious Covid-19 is. For goodness sake, we have a comment somewhere here that tells how 90% of Victoria's cases, with I think, over 200 new cases yesterday and 12 deaths, from memory – all came from one family of four!!

        It isn't a benign matter, it can't be brushed off, dear, dear, bad luck, you'll have to lie up for a few weeks won’t you.

        If you know something different to what has been constantly put up for the last months, by all means explain it, otherwise I suggest the old advice of keeping schtum and your eyes open and focussed.

  7. lprent 7
    21 August 2020 at 9:53 am

    My understanding is that (at best) this won't be available until the second quarter of next year at the best. They only recently started stage three trials. Those results won't be finalized until the end of the year.

    If they get good results – maybe one chance in twenty. They have to get appovals and manufacture a very large number of doses of what will be a fiddly manufacturing process. And deliver out to the coal face for use. None of these processes will be short. All are fraught with potentials for time loss.

    Personally I can't see any particular reason to get excited by this at present. Useful to look at – yes. But we have more immediate problems to get through before issues about how we stick needles into arms becomes prominent.

    • Gabby 7.1
      21 August 2020 at 10:11 am

      Their response to Scotty's marketing spiel seemed a little noncommital, along the lines of it's a letter of intent is all.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2
      21 August 2020 at 1:35 pm

      manufacture a very large number of doses of what will be a fiddly manufacturing process.

      That can be helped by spreading it across many manufacturers in many places. That does bring its own headaches of quality control at those locations but it would help in getting a high volume of the vaccine produced quickly.

      • lprent 7.2.1
        21 August 2020 at 2:09 pm

        That is pretty well what is happening. Plus they're preparing that manufacturing process prior to known the outcomes of the phase 3 trials.

        The Economist did some analysis of the cost/benefit of that and concluded it makes overwhelming sense even though the majority of the preparations for all the different vaccines would probably be a nett waste. The waste from having a covid-19 pandemic raging was far higher.

        "The world is spending nowhere near enough on a coronavirus vaccine (Far better to spend far too much)"

        "Hard questions as scientists and governments seek covid-19 vaccines"

        • RedLogix 7.2.1.1
          21 August 2020 at 2:35 pm

          NZ has long had the capacity to manufacture world class animal vaccines. I was involved in the automation of one of the largest facilities some years ago; it's high tech and precision work, but it's well within our capacity.

          • greywarshark 7.2.1.1.1
            21 August 2020 at 2:52 pm

            Is this still operational RL? If so why not put a word in our leaders shell pink ears, or brown ones, and get them thinking about what could be achieved. I don't think that they know everything, and if we have civil servants like the officials that Jeremy Corbyn had, they might not even get told what they need to know.

            • RedLogix 7.2.1.1.1.1
              21 August 2020 at 3:01 pm

              Yes. It's gone through a number of ownership changes over the years, but it's still running. This particular facility would probably not be directly useful, as it is highly specialised to the production of a specific class of vaccine.

              For COVID it would of course be a lot more efficient to leverage off a world scale unit overseas, but if the politics of the situation required it, then we do have the skills and capacity to build and operate such a plant.

              • greywarshark …
                21 August 2020 at 3:08 pm

                Here in Nelson we have the Cawthron Institute – I suppose there are other laboratories undertaking modern development lab work. Perhaps the government ESR could be the lead movers in this and find suitable entities to do it.

                Perhaps there is some one on weka’s post with ideas.
                https://thestandard.org.nz/yale-does-socialist-medicine-with-new-covid-test/

                We might get in on that swab idea with saliva, that would be useful straight away.

                • RedLogix …
                  21 August 2020 at 3:14 pm

                  Good point, Cawthron are certainly another one of the significant names. NZ does have a biotech manufacturing sector that's been doing good work for many decades.

                  It's the people with the specific industry skills and experience who are the critical element; if you have those then everything is doable.

                  • greywarshark …
                    21 August 2020 at 3:30 pm

                    We could look hard at what we've got in expertise and then it might be a very good case to think about our migrant applications. All over the world there would be jobs for them but they may still like to come to NZ – because we have the special ingredient, gumption! (Scots, possibly from Middle English and Old Norse.) We have found a good supply of it under Labour, and even though immigrants might never have heard the word, they can see what it leads to right here in little NZ.

          • lprent 7.2.1.1.2
            21 August 2020 at 6:06 pm

            Good point. I keep forgetting that we have a thriving medical industry tending out livestock.

  8. Stuart Munro 8
    21 August 2020 at 10:03 am

    I wouldn't count on the Bill of Rights exemptions – quarantine powers are traditionally quite strong, and for fairly good reason.

    A person may be detained for 28 days if the MOoH believes they are infected or pose a risk of infection to the population at large.

    Now, there are many bridges to cross before vaccines become an issue, not least of which is whether they will grant lasting immunity. But assuming the US style rights based objections would triumph over a direction by the MOoH, if one were made, might be optimistic.

  9. Bryan 9
    21 August 2020 at 10:41 am

    All of this counting chickens before they are hatched, certainly plan for a vaccine rollout but actually we just have to wait till the successful vaccine candidate/s emerge from phase III trials.

    What ScoMo has secured on the new "vaccine futures" market is a heavily punted option.

    Compulsion will not assist in vaccine uptake – like mask wearing, community consensus, education and understanding – we can all see the consequences around the world of widespread community transmission.

    Already – flu vaccination is normalised and successful, my expectation would be for 70+% uptake -put away the bayonets and handcuffs with refusenik stamped on them.

    • greywarshark 9.1
      21 August 2020 at 2:30 pm

      Again – this is not flu, Mr Commonsense Sensible.

      • Bryan 9.1.1
        21 August 2020 at 4:05 pm

        "then we will not give medical treatment like ventilator time etc to them."

        Talk pigshit think pigshit – Nasty is as nasty does.

        Of course it is not flu – but there is an established accepted high uptake mechanism for vaccination against the flu virus.

  10. JPWood 10
    21 August 2020 at 10:42 am

    The vaccine could be made compulsory despite what the BORA says, its just that there would be no appetite to pass BORA inconsistent legislation in this case and likely be no need if sufficient numbers took it up.

  11. Chris 11
    21 August 2020 at 10:49 am

    "We have a right under our Bill of Rights (commonly known as BoRA) to refuse medical treatment. So any shot for Covid-19 can’t be made compulsory."

    Anything can be made compulsory regardless of NZBORA protections. All that's needed is legislation to be passed. We don't have a system of supreme law in New Zealand.

    • Tabletennis 11.1
      21 August 2020 at 5:33 pm

      that is what I thought : even article 7 of the UN won't protect you:
      In addition, the idea of informed consent has been universally accepted and now constitutes Article 7 of the United Nations' International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

      many vaccines are mandatory, (e.g. for attending school,) in Germany, France, Italy the U$ and Australia (to receive welfare).
      IOW a countries bill of rights, doesn't seem to make an iota of difference to bodily autonomy/individual rights.

      They'll (employer/gym/travelling/ etc) put you between a rock and hard place – what? choice, informed consent ? -Bill of rights – don't be silly….
      Furthermore, all those who avoid using products that are tested on animals, (and this vaccine will have been tested on many hundreds of animals including Macau Monkeys and Chimpanzees), are not enough of a market force – what choice? informed consent?

      What's in the end, is the aim of a vaccine: BAU, such that one can continue ignoring climate change, and its devastation on the health of the nation.

  12. greywarshark 12
    21 August 2020 at 10:49 am

    Young partying v old shut away, out of sight out of mind.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/424084/covid-19-young-people-should-not-bear-brunt-of-blame-for-spreading-virus-expert

    WHO says young people in some countries are spreading disease, gives the impression that it thinks they are feckless.

    The warning, from the World Health Organisation, is based on surges in cases among people in their 20s and 30s in Australia, the Philippines and Japan.

    The entitled, free, libertarian.

    In the US, outbreaks are continuing to emerge in residence halls and fraternity houses, and many spring breakers made it clear that not even a pandemic would hinder their plans to have a good time.
    "If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day I'm not going to let it stop me from partying," American Brady Sluder told reporters…

    In the Philippines and Victoria, Australia more than half the cases of Covid-19 in recent weeks have been in people under the age of 40.
    In Japan, two thirds of recent cases are in people aged 39 and under.

    In NZ we are more balanced.

    All the rangatahi RNZ spoke to had real concerns about spreading the virus themselves, but they admit it is a little bit relative.
    "I don't know, I kind of feel like level 2 is low key, like level nothing to some people. It's like – go hard or go home, depending on your outlook," Wellington student, Israel, said.

    Another local, Mark, said: "If I wasn't in New Zealand I'd definitely be freaked out about it. But in New Zealand I'm just concerned."
    And according to an expert, there is nothing wrong with a medium level of caution.

  13. bwaghorn 13
    21 August 2020 at 11:08 am

    The roll out should be done on risk factors.

    The old and the Ill then the kids and then cities and lastly us out in the sparsely populated areas.

  14. Patricia Bremner 14
    21 August 2020 at 11:24 am

    I notice Scott Morrison would "Make the vaccine free for all Australians"

    Then later "It would be offered to New Zealand and the Pacific as well"

    As a person who has had polio and the effects of that influencing my old age, I am in favour of a successful vaccine.

    The enzyme called Bromelain developed from pineapples used in cancer treatments to stop the spike of covid 19 infecting other cells. Trials in Melbourne next month.

    Someone might be able to put up the article from the NZ Herald. " Pineapples could be key to treating virus" Thanks.

  15. Paaparakauta 15
    21 August 2020 at 12:37 pm

    Will dual-nationals have to surreptitiously line up outside the Thorndon embassy for a shot ?

  16. Draco T Bastard 16
    21 August 2020 at 1:28 pm

    My reckons is the first New Zealand political leader to get the word in to Prime Minister Morrison to secure enough for us would score a reasonable political coup.

    I'd be more impressed if we simply made our own deal rather than doing an indirect deal.

    And I'd be more inclined to get a deal that had our pharmaceutical companies manufacture it here as well.

    Why not just see which vaccine is the most effective – just hold off the whole thing for 6 months and see who turns into an Undead?

    That is probably a viable option for us and probably even a good one. We're talking about people's health here and jumping in with both feet is contra-indicated.

    And Are We Vaccine-Organised For The Next One?

    No.

    We don't have anywhere near enough R&D for it which is why we're reliant upon others producing a vaccine for covid. Another failure of the neo-liberal economic hypothesis.

    We should never have become a service and farm economy but an R&D and production economy.

  17. Infused 17
    21 August 2020 at 1:29 pm

    I'm no anti vaxxer but think I'll be holding off for a bit. This process sounds very rushed

  18. Rosemary McDonald 18
    21 August 2020 at 1:47 pm

    Probably the right time to have another look at Farah Hancock's piece…

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/be-prepared-for-covid-19-vaccine-side-effects

    For Oxford University’s vaccine, around 70 percent of participants experienced fatigue, 68 percent had headaches, 60 percent muscle aches, 56 percent chills and 18 percent reported a fever. Symptoms ranged from mild to severe. Trials where participants were asked to take painkillers every six hours the day after the injection showed this reduced some side effects, but often didn’t help the moderate or severe side effects.

    And the Lancet paper on the Oxford Vaccine trials….

    https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31604-4/fulltext

  19. Just Is 19
    21 August 2020 at 4:19 pm

    He isn't called "Scotty from Marketing" for no reason.

    I saw him do the big sell.

    "I've secured 25 million vaccines, enough for everyone, and it will be Free, totally free to every Australian"

  20. McFlock 20
    21 August 2020 at 4:34 pm

    We should hold off and let places with endemic covid use the vaccines. They need it more than we do.

    This assumes that the vaccines have gone through regular safety trials, unlike the Russian one apparently.

    If the vaccines have significant problems, we have the luxury of being able to keep quarantine and postpone the vaccine, because we're not losing a couple of dozen people a day.

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    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    10 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    17 hours ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    17 hours ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    19 hours ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    20 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    21 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    43 mins ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
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